Letter: Loons Don’t Need More Help

In response to Teresa Lynch’s July 8 letter, “Help for N.H. Loons”: In 1975, there were 120 pairs of loons in New Hampshire; in 2012, their were 638 pairs. Seems like they’re doing pretty well despite all this deadly lead in the water. The common loon is not considered federally threatened or endangered. I would suspect most biologists would agree that the loon population is at or near the carrying capacity of New Hampshire lakes, at least the ones with enough fish in them. The Loon Preservation Committee’s claim that larger lead-head jigs are the primary cause of loon mortality is false. The committee’s own studies confirm it. If these people really want to save all the loons, maybe they should try to stop the subsistence hunting of approximately 4,500 loons a year by the Inuit people instead of going after New Hampshire fishermen.

To the Editor: I would like to respond to Joseph Krasnecky’s May 29 letter, “Fisherman Lose Again.” SB 89, which was just signed into law by the governor, bans the use of lead sinkers and jigs of 1 ounce or less as of 2016. I believe it is an important step toward supporting the loon population, which is recovering. It …

To the Editor: It seems that the fisherman in New Hampshire will lose again if the lead jig bill becomes law (“N.H. House Votes to Ban Lures That Harm Loons,” May 23). Why is it that the loon population is growing slowly but steadily? It is not declining at all. I’m quite sure it has more to do with available …

To the Editor: I will try one more time to explain why a bill recently passed by the Legislature doesn’t amount to “going after New Hampshire fishermen,” as claimed by Joseph Krasnecky in his July 20 letter. After 2016, you may still fish, just not with lead jigs weighing 1 ounce or less. I spoke with a Massachusetts fisherman last …